Tonneau cover having a draw cord

Abstract

A tonneau cover assembly for attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck. The tonneau cover assembly including a cover, a support frame and a securing plate having at least one locking member. Preferably, the tonneau cover assembly includes two biased locking members interconnected by a draw cord. The draw cord preferably includes a clip that removably and adjustably secures the draw cord to a channel in the securing plate. The draw cord preferably includes a pull loop that at least partially extends through an opening in the cover.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13,599,849, filed Aug. 30, 2012, which claimed benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 529,715, filed Aug. 31, 2011, each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]Tonneau cover assemblies, particularly, tonneau cover assemblies including a cover secured to a securing plate having locking members to engage the securing plate to side rails attached to sidewalls of the cargo box. The cover assemblies further including a draw cord interconnected to the respective locking members.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Numerous protective cover assemblies for preventing rain, debris and wind from damaging or disrupting the contents of a pickup truck bed are currently available. Some covers are made of some sort of fabric, often a fabric coated with a polymeric material, which is detachably fastenable to a rigid fram...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a flexible cover for a cargo box that can be easily secured and adjusted over the side rails for a truck. The cover uses magnetic fasteners that can slide horizontally and automatically engage with the side rails, eliminating the need for hook and loop fasteners that require users to run their hands over the cover. This appearance is desirable to consumers and reduces the possibility of rain water or snow accumulating over the middle of the cargo box. The cover can also be combined with hook and loop fasteners along with magnetic fasteners for even more secure and effective engagement. The invention also includes a directional hook fastener element that only engages in one direction, which further improves the durability and performance of the cover.

Problems solved by technology

It will be appreciated that the appearance of a flexible cover that is tautly drawn over a cargo box is desirable to consumers and that a tautly drawn flexible cover diminishes the possibility that rain water or snow will pool in low spots over the middle of the cargo box with such flexible covers, which is also believed to be undesirable.

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